Prevalence of and risk factors for sexually transmitted infection with Chlamydia trachomatis to guide control measures: findings from the Slovenian National Survey of Sexual Lifestyles, Attitudes, and Health in 2016-2017.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To inform Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection control, the objectives of the second Slovenian National Survey of Sexual Lifestyles, Attitudes, and Health in 2016-2017 were to estimate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for CT infection among sexually experienced 18- to 49-year-olds in Slovenia. METHODS: Data were collected from a probability sample of the general population 18 to 49 years old. Respondents were invited to provide a urine specimen for CT testing. Data were analyzed using STATA 15 survey commands to account for stratification and clustering. RESULTS: Of 1,046 CT test results of sexually experienced respondents included in the analyses, the weighted prevalence of CT infection was 0.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1-1.9) in men and 1.7% (95% CI 0.9-3.3) in women. The highest prevalence was among women 18 to 24 years old (5.6%; 95% CI 2.0-14.4). Women 18 to 49 years old with a new sex partner in the last year had higher odds of CT infection (adjusted odds ratio 8.9, 95% CI 2.5-31.9). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of annual opportunistic testing for CT should be considered for sexually active women < 25 years old, and testing should be offered at primary healthcare gynecology clinics to older women reporting a new sex partner during the past year.